Konsta Kurikka has been rehabilitating his pitching elbow for a year. Now the hand is in full swing again, and he is heading to the mother country of the sport, the United States, in the spring.
Sotkamo’s Jymy baseball championship gold winner Konsta Kurikan the dream of the world’s toughest baseball series is still alive and strong.
After the championship year 2020, Kurikka left domestic baseball behind and changed the sport to American baseball.
Three years have passed in the Spanish, German and Australian leagues, but a place in the American MLB is still the number one goal.
Kurikka has also experienced the dark side of baseball. In Australia, two punches hit the pitching hand directly, causing the ligament to fail. It took almost a year to rehabilitate it.
– In the exhibition match in Dubai, it was able to withstand being fed at full strength, which was a great relief.
In Dubai, Kurikka reached the hardest place of his career so far.
– There were players there with tens of years of MLB experience and the level was by far the highest. I will also probably play in Dubai next winter.
Kurikka also succeeded in a tough place. During the inning, only four players had time to use the stick: the result was three hits without a single run for the opponent.
Heading to the United States in the spring
In the winter, Kurikka has been honing his throwing skills at his house in Juva. A trip to the United States is soon ahead to train and possibly also to play.
– I’m going to the same place in New Jersey, where I was already in the fall. There is a very good coach and individual training. The goal is a place to play before the summer from the United States or Mexico.
The clear goal of the spring training camp is to refine the passing technique so that the ball leaves the hand even more accurately and firmly.
– A few miles should get even more speed. In the summer, it is planned to give screens to the next level.
In Kurika’s opinion, a place to play in the United States would definitely be the best option in terms of development.
– There are talent scouts, the best knowledge and coaching.
Kurikka estimates that the work to reach the top needs to be done for at least another three to four years.
– It requires hard work. In this sport, the development steps are short, and you have to succeed in those places where you get the opportunity to show.
Pitcher is a special role
In baseball, Kurika’s role is purely that of a pitcher. Only a few top players both serve and hit.
There is no direct equivalent to that in domestic baseball.
– It is a very unique task, purely man against man, i.e. pitcher against hitter.
The pitcher throws the ball from less than 20 meters into an area measuring 30 x 50 centimeters.
– In practice, you have to be able to throw hard to an area that is about 15 centimeters in diameter. Then you can say you are at the top level.
Kurika’s passing speed of 151 kilometers per hour is known to be very high for a Finnish player.
The demandingness of the pitcher’s role is also illustrated by the fact that there are several pitchers in the team during the game.
Kurikka has spent the winter weeks in Juva in his native landscapes. Raised in a baseball family, he can practice pitching on the pitching mound he received from the national team.
– You can work out well at Kaarihalli, and your feet will surely fall to the ground if your shoes start to come off.